June 18, 2020
It seems to be up to the citizens to file ethics complaints and even file lawsuits if necessary because elected officials can not seem to adhere to their own policies or their oath of office.
According to the ethics complaint filed on Tuesday evening, July 14, with the City Council, Cynthia Miller not only used the “Mines Lake” property for her personal planned event on July 4th, but had previously used the property for personal use over the Memorial Day weekend.
You can see picture from July 4th here.
According to the citizen filing the complaint, he had talked with at least two (2) council members ahead of July 4 and they refused to address the situation.
The utility users in Monticello are paying not only for the note payment on this property, but also for the utilities used by Ms. Miller and her guests when she uses the property in violation of City policy. Were City employees also paid to clean up and fix the property before these personal events?
A Sheriff’s deputy was called to the location on July 4 in response to a trespassing complaint.
Remember: “Mine Lake” is the site of the proposed “Mega-site” that the City bought at 2.5 times the value on the tax books. The City Council bought this property for almost $3.2 million and now pays $16,244.81 per month on the purchase. They also said this site would provide 2 mgd of water; however, EPD has informed the City, according to the former city manager, that the water in that area can not be used.
After Mayor Standifer used this property for his family get togethers on Easter and Mothers Day in 2018, the City Council decided there would be no entry and no trespass on the property as shown in the City minutes dated 8/2/2018.
(See TWG post here: https://taxdogs.wordpress.com/2018/05/24/mayor-brian-standifer-takes-special-privileges-at-new-megasite-city-accepts-nepotism/ )
Why are utility bills so high in the City? Part of the reason is the $16,244.80 per month ($194,697.64 per year) note on this property is paid by transfers from the water fund and electric fund to the general fund. $197,850.52 is put into the FY2021 City budget from the Water Fund and $699,569 from the Electric Fund. There is a 20 year GEFA note on the property.
Citizens, when are you going to get tired of this two-tiered system? You pay for everything, but can’t use the property, while your “leaders” violate any rule they want to. Kudos to the citizen(s) with enough guts to call out these ethical laspes and outright violations.
TWG
Citizens, be informed and stay informed! Only by being informed, can the citizens understand what is being done and talked about, and then press our officials to make good decisions for everyone in Jasper County. That is our goal with the Taxdogs blog.
Taxpayer's Watchdog Group 
This seems very rude and unnecessary. This is not what this website is for at all.
This is exactly what the website is for. To show people how their tax money is being spent and how our “leaders“ are not good trustees of our money.
How did the city of Monticello become a city of ethics? They have never done anything special to get that designation and they certainly do not hold themselves to a higher standard.
Amazing that something hasn’t came up sooner. I wouldn’t live in the City for nothing and they wonder why water and electric bills are so high. Poor decisions lead to bad outcomes and this big mega lake was indeed a bad decision in my opinion. Not sure what it’s going to take for Folks to wake up? Maybe splash some of that expensive water on your face, but of course have the lights on so you can get the full effect.
Notice some people can do anything they want with no consequences. Look around the country and see this is a fact everywhere. Laws are not for them to follow..